Family photoMatthew Jones The father of a 19-year-old Lysander man who died after a car crash Saturday wants to know why Onondaga County sheriff’s deputies didn’t test his son for alcohol and why they aren’t investigating who served him.
Matthew Jones' obituary

The father, Scott Jones, wants to know why his son, Matthew T. Jones, was allowed to drink beer underage at a Syracuse nightclub earlier the morning of the crash.

Matthew Jones was driving his cousin’s 2002 Buick Century on Route 31 near Stearns Road in Clay about 7:15 a.m. Saturday when the car crossed the oncoming lane, hit a snowbank, became airborne and landed upside down in a ditch. Scott Jones said his son broke many bones, suffered brain damage and never woke up from a coma.

Matthew Jones was pronounced dead about 11:30 p.m. Saturday at Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse. Doctors were able to save his organs which were donated to others waiting for transplants.

Sheriff’s deputies said they did not test Matthew Jones for alcohol because they did not have probable cause.

“There has to be some circumstance to pursue it: The smell of alcohol, beer cans in the car,” said Sgt. John D’Eredita, a spokesman for the sheriff’s department. “There was no evidence at the scene that alcohol played a factor. Therefore there is no probable cause for us to have blood drawn.”

During their investigation, deputies learned Matthew Jones and a cousin had gone to a Syracuse club Friday night, Deputy Kathleen Kruger said. Matthew Jones was seen drinking alcohol, Kruger said, but she said no one was saying he was intoxicated or drinking just before the crash.

The hospital has sent a sample of Matthew Jones’ blood to be tested, D’Eredita said. If the tests prove he had consumed alcohol, sheriff’s deputies said they will investigate further.

Scott Jones said his son had diabetes and hospital tests showed Matthew Jones’ sugar levels were far above normal.

“I’m surprised the (deputies) didn’t want to check his blood and see if he was intoxicated or if it was the sugar levels,” Scott Jones said Monday.

Jones and his cousin, Sam Palmisano, of Baldwinsville, left the nightclub early Saturday and headed to a friend’s house in Clay, according to Jones’ father who got his information from Palmisano.

Scott Jones said he believes his son knew his blood sugar levels were getting too high Saturday morning. He said his son dropped off a friend in Clay and was heading back to his grandmother’s house where he also lived on Hart Road in Lysander to check his blood sugar levels when the crash happened.

Sheriff’s deputies said the icy road and speed contributed to the crash.

Matthew Jones grew up in Brewerton and attended Paul V. Moore High School in Central Square, his father said. He moved to Clayton, N.C. about four years ago with his mother and stepfather, Annette and David Baker. Matthew Jones returned to Central New York about six months ago and had been living with his maternal grandmother, Hilda Calkins, his father said.

Matthew Jones wanted to become a physical therapist so he could help others, his father said. He went to Onondaga Community College in the fall but planned to take the spring semester off, Scott Jones said.

“He was a good kid; a lot of fun,” Scott Jones said.

Calling hours are scheduled from 2 to 5 p.m. Wednesday at Falardeau Funeral Home in Baldwinsville, and the funeral is immediately following at 5 p.m. Wednesday. Scott Jones said his son will be cremated.